Chinese satellites track U.S. carrier group crossing South China Sea

Satellite imagery released by the Chinese commercial company MizarVision appears to show the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) carrier strike group in the South China Sea on Nov. 4, as the carrier heads toward the Middle East. MizarVision said in a post that it identified the aircraft carrier along with the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80). The Navy did release its own photo the same day, showing the Theodore Roosevelt sailing alongside the Royal Australian Navy replenishment oiler HMAS Stalwart (A304) on Nov. 4. In the caption, the Navy said the carrier, flagship of Carrier Strike Group 9, was conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, which covers the western Pacific and the South China Sea. It did not give the ships' exact location. The Theodore Roosevelt left its home port of San Diego on Sept. 27 for a deployment to the area overseen by U.S. Central Command, which covers the Middle East, Maritime Executive reported, citing U.S. officials. The carrier is expected to relieve the USS George Washington (CVN 73) strike group, which has been enforcing the U.S. naval blockade of Iran in the Arabian Sea. Before moving into the South China Sea, the carrier took part in a training exercise in the Philippine Sea in late October. U.S. officials have said it and the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) should reach the Middle East by the end of November, Stars and Stripes reported. Its arrival would give the U.S. military a third aircraft carrier in the region. MizarVision satellite imagery reportedly shows the U.S. Navy carrier strike group led by USS Theodore Roosevelt operating in the South China Sea, Nov. 4, 2026. The deployment comes during a tense period with Iran. The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28 under Operation Epic Fury, and a ceasefire took hold in April. Since then, the U.S. military has carried out several limited strikes, including one on Nov. 3 that President Donald Trump said hit an anti-aircraft site on Iran's Qeshm Island. Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran are continuing through Qatar. MizarVision is a commercial satellite imagery company in China that regularly posts images of U.S. military bases, ships and aircraft, often with ship and aircraft names labeled using artificial intelligence. Its releases have drawn attention from Western analysts because they make the movements of U.S. forces publicly visible. A carrier strike group normally includes the carrier with its air wing, at least one cruiser or destroyer for air defense, and support ships. MizarVision's post named only three ships, so it is not clear whether other escorts were present or out of view. The U.S. Navy has not announced when the Theodore Roosevelt will enter the Indian Ocean or when it will arrive in the Arabian Sea.